Courage Under Fire: The IDF Field Observers' Crucial Role
On that horrific morning of October 7th, these brave young women were the first to see what was going on, and they succeeded in saving many lives – before succumbing to the enemy themselves. By guest author Colonel (res.) Oded Halevy
IsraelDefense
| 04/11/2023
The horrific events of Saturday, October 7th brought the profession of field observers and their central role in Israel's border defense system to the public discourse.
Did they see any indication? What did they do on Saturday morning? Did they see and report on the massive infiltration of Hamas forces into the borderline?
The short answer is that without the field observers in the Gaza envelope area, the situation could have been even worse, and many soldiers and civilians owe their lives to them, including on the morning of October 7th.
A challenging, all-female role
The IDF field observer array is one of the unique and professional systems within its land forces. The array, established in parallel with the IDF's withdrawal from the Security Zone in Lebanon, has undergone many changes over the two decades that have passed since. However, the essence of its mission has remained unchanged, and its importance has only increased.
The desire to reduce the exposure of forces moving along the border, technological advancements in surveillance systems, and the ability to control and monitor central and remote systems have heightened the centrality of intelligence and collection units as essential components in the overall security system and border defense.
The role of field observers is one of the most challenging positions for women in the IDF, except for those who volunteer for combat roles. Field observers are the ones who understand the intricacies of the border area in which they operate at a very high level, monitoring every detail and recognizing every single stone, every shepherd, every characteristic of the terrain, and every sign that might indicate an event.
Field observers actively and continuously monitor the area. They accompany and guide the forces, and at times, they even operate weaponry themselves from their units, through remotely activated "see and shoot" systems deployed along the border.
In recent years, field observers have prevented numerous attempts at breaching Israel's borders. They have thwarted terrorist activities along the borders, and assisted in mapping Hezbollah's activities in Lebanon and terrorist organizations in the Golan Heights. They have also prevented weapon smuggling attempts and terror incidents along the borders with Egypt and Jordan and identified tunnel excavation sites in the Gaza Strip.
The field observers along Israel's borders and in the West Bank are, quite literally, the eyes of the battalions, divisions, and brigades.
What happened on Saturday, October 7th?
For several months now, field observers in the Gaza envelope have identified unusual behaviors in the area. They notice and report suspicious activities, identify and report Hamas commander tours, and understand and monitor non-routine conduct that they then report to their commanding officers and the intelligence personnel in the region.
On the morning of October 7th, in contrast to other forces in the Gaza envelope, some of which were either redeployed to different areas or returned home according to the Shabbat/holiday regulations, the collection units and intelligence units integrated as an integral part of the battalions and brigade headquarters continued to operate fully. All positions were manned, and the systems for detection, surveillance, and investigation were active. They witnessed everything happening right before their eyes.
At 06:25 a.m., the "innocent" farmers working in the fields in the border area were the first to act. With the cover of rocket fire and explosive devices, the field observers identified the "farmers" retrieving pre-positioned materials from the ground (primarily during the mass protests that had taken place over the previous weeks, which served as cover) and then ran with them toward the border. There, they initiated the explosives and breached the fence.
Following the “farmers”, armed fighters who had hidden along the line of houses emerge. Some of them open fire with RPGs towards the observation and communication towers, while others head toward the breaches made in the fence.
Drones and paraglides then drop explosives on the "see and shoot" systems, disrupting some of them. They also target and disrupt high-mounted cameras on the towers, impairing some of their capabilities.
The field observers in the command centers witness the events and transmit coded words that describe what is happening through the communication networks of the battalions and territorial brigades. Shortly after, they generate an accurate situational report detailing the number of infiltrators and their reported locations.
The IDF forces dispersed in the Gaza envelope quickly mobilized and initiated the prescribed actions that should bring each one to their designated positions within seconds. Tanks from the brigade are supposed to move to firing positions, and armored vehicle units that are deployed in the line also start taking action.
Some of them manage to reach their positions and open fire on the swarm of terrorists flooding Israeli territory. Some encounter the enemy already at the entrance to the position, where they engage in underground combat against an enemy with numerical superiority and a variety of means of warfare, including grenades, rifles, and significant fire.
Eyes on everything
The field observers see everything that morning: the infiltrations, the rows of trucks coming in through the fence, and the forces engaged in battle – few against many.
There is great frustration, and there are hardly any forces that can be directed to those fence breaches and enemy infiltrators that they identify along the entire Gaza border region.
They do not take their eyes off the screen, and track the progress of the infiltrators, continuing to report to the commanders and demanding more firepower and a response to block the entry.
And then, the terrorists reach the gates of the camps where they are stationed.
The terrorist units who infiltrated the border in the first stage reach the gates of the military bases and engage in combat. In some of the camps, the terrorists manage to penetrate the base, shoot at the soldiers fighting against them, and reach the headquarters.
The field observers continue to work professionally, transmitting an accurate situation that allows sending forces to defend the communities where the terrorists have reached, and activate the weapons systems of the remaining "see and fire" platforms.
The female officers and commanders continue, with courage and composure, to manage the activity of the combat soldiers, receive injured soldiers, and organize forces that will stand guard at the entrances.
In some of the army bases, the soldiers manage to repel the terrorists and prevent them from entering the collection's combatants, continuing to operate the remaining cameras as eyes in the sky for the fighting forces.
At the 'Nachal Oz' base, a fierce battle ensues between our forces and the terrorists, a battle in which the terrorists eventually manage to penetrate the command center and kill the field observers and commanders, who continue to operate with courage and determination until the last moments. May their memory be a blessing.
The fighting continues, lasting for many hours and days. The field observers, along with other forces, eventually overcame the situation and continued their activities. They locate terrorists within their territory, secure the breaches to prevent further infiltration, and direct forces to respond to any identified threats and terrorists who are still active in the area.
The efforts of the field observers in safeguarding the borders do not stop for a moment. They continue their dedicated and professional work in identifying infiltration attempts, understanding the situation on the ground, and thwarting hostile actions along the borders of the country, including the Gaza Strip.
By Colonel (res.) Oded Halevy. Halevy retired from the IDF in 2015 after 26 years of service, during which he held various command positions in combat intelligence collection units. Halevy also formulated operational concepts and implemented regional and border defense security measures.
Currently, Halevy is the CEO of GOTRACK HLS, which provides professional and inclusive solutions for control rooms. The company provides an active remote control center, the SEEU
On that horrific morning of October 7th, these brave young women were the first to see what was going on, and they succeeded in saving many lives – before succumbing to the enemy themselves. By guest author Colonel (res.) Oded Halevy
The horrific events of Saturday, October 7th brought the profession of field observers and their central role in Israel's border defense system to the public discourse.
Did they see any indication? What did they do on Saturday morning? Did they see and report on the massive infiltration of Hamas forces into the borderline?
The short answer is that without the field observers in the Gaza envelope area, the situation could have been even worse, and many soldiers and civilians owe their lives to them, including on the morning of October 7th.
A challenging, all-female role
The IDF field observer array is one of the unique and professional systems within its land forces. The array, established in parallel with the IDF's withdrawal from the Security Zone in Lebanon, has undergone many changes over the two decades that have passed since. However, the essence of its mission has remained unchanged, and its importance has only increased.
The desire to reduce the exposure of forces moving along the border, technological advancements in surveillance systems, and the ability to control and monitor central and remote systems have heightened the centrality of intelligence and collection units as essential components in the overall security system and border defense.
The role of field observers is one of the most challenging positions for women in the IDF, except for those who volunteer for combat roles. Field observers are the ones who understand the intricacies of the border area in which they operate at a very high level, monitoring every detail and recognizing every single stone, every shepherd, every characteristic of the terrain, and every sign that might indicate an event.
Field observers actively and continuously monitor the area. They accompany and guide the forces, and at times, they even operate weaponry themselves from their units, through remotely activated "see and shoot" systems deployed along the border.
In recent years, field observers have prevented numerous attempts at breaching Israel's borders. They have thwarted terrorist activities along the borders, and assisted in mapping Hezbollah's activities in Lebanon and terrorist organizations in the Golan Heights. They have also prevented weapon smuggling attempts and terror incidents along the borders with Egypt and Jordan and identified tunnel excavation sites in the Gaza Strip.
The field observers along Israel's borders and in the West Bank are, quite literally, the eyes of the battalions, divisions, and brigades.
What happened on Saturday, October 7th?
For several months now, field observers in the Gaza envelope have identified unusual behaviors in the area. They notice and report suspicious activities, identify and report Hamas commander tours, and understand and monitor non-routine conduct that they then report to their commanding officers and the intelligence personnel in the region.
On the morning of October 7th, in contrast to other forces in the Gaza envelope, some of which were either redeployed to different areas or returned home according to the Shabbat/holiday regulations, the collection units and intelligence units integrated as an integral part of the battalions and brigade headquarters continued to operate fully. All positions were manned, and the systems for detection, surveillance, and investigation were active. They witnessed everything happening right before their eyes.
At 06:25 a.m., the "innocent" farmers working in the fields in the border area were the first to act. With the cover of rocket fire and explosive devices, the field observers identified the "farmers" retrieving pre-positioned materials from the ground (primarily during the mass protests that had taken place over the previous weeks, which served as cover) and then ran with them toward the border. There, they initiated the explosives and breached the fence.
Following the “farmers”, armed fighters who had hidden along the line of houses emerge. Some of them open fire with RPGs towards the observation and communication towers, while others head toward the breaches made in the fence.
Drones and paraglides then drop explosives on the "see and shoot" systems, disrupting some of them. They also target and disrupt high-mounted cameras on the towers, impairing some of their capabilities.
The field observers in the command centers witness the events and transmit coded words that describe what is happening through the communication networks of the battalions and territorial brigades. Shortly after, they generate an accurate situational report detailing the number of infiltrators and their reported locations.
The IDF forces dispersed in the Gaza envelope quickly mobilized and initiated the prescribed actions that should bring each one to their designated positions within seconds. Tanks from the brigade are supposed to move to firing positions, and armored vehicle units that are deployed in the line also start taking action.
Some of them manage to reach their positions and open fire on the swarm of terrorists flooding Israeli territory. Some encounter the enemy already at the entrance to the position, where they engage in underground combat against an enemy with numerical superiority and a variety of means of warfare, including grenades, rifles, and significant fire.
Eyes on everything
The field observers see everything that morning: the infiltrations, the rows of trucks coming in through the fence, and the forces engaged in battle – few against many.
There is great frustration, and there are hardly any forces that can be directed to those fence breaches and enemy infiltrators that they identify along the entire Gaza border region.
They do not take their eyes off the screen, and track the progress of the infiltrators, continuing to report to the commanders and demanding more firepower and a response to block the entry.
And then, the terrorists reach the gates of the camps where they are stationed.
The terrorist units who infiltrated the border in the first stage reach the gates of the military bases and engage in combat. In some of the camps, the terrorists manage to penetrate the base, shoot at the soldiers fighting against them, and reach the headquarters.
The field observers continue to work professionally, transmitting an accurate situation that allows sending forces to defend the communities where the terrorists have reached, and activate the weapons systems of the remaining "see and fire" platforms.
The female officers and commanders continue, with courage and composure, to manage the activity of the combat soldiers, receive injured soldiers, and organize forces that will stand guard at the entrances.
In some of the army bases, the soldiers manage to repel the terrorists and prevent them from entering the collection's combatants, continuing to operate the remaining cameras as eyes in the sky for the fighting forces.
At the 'Nachal Oz' base, a fierce battle ensues between our forces and the terrorists, a battle in which the terrorists eventually manage to penetrate the command center and kill the field observers and commanders, who continue to operate with courage and determination until the last moments. May their memory be a blessing.
The fighting continues, lasting for many hours and days. The field observers, along with other forces, eventually overcame the situation and continued their activities. They locate terrorists within their territory, secure the breaches to prevent further infiltration, and direct forces to respond to any identified threats and terrorists who are still active in the area.
The efforts of the field observers in safeguarding the borders do not stop for a moment. They continue their dedicated and professional work in identifying infiltration attempts, understanding the situation on the ground, and thwarting hostile actions along the borders of the country, including the Gaza Strip.
By Colonel (res.) Oded Halevy. Halevy retired from the IDF in 2015 after 26 years of service, during which he held various command positions in combat intelligence collection units. Halevy also formulated operational concepts and implemented regional and border defense security measures.
Currently, Halevy is the CEO of GOTRACK HLS, which provides professional and inclusive solutions for control rooms. The company provides an active remote control center, the SEEU
